Iowa State men’s basketball will play Tennessee in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament in Chicago, Illinois, on Friday, March 27.
The No. 2-seed Cyclones (29-7) are coming off an 82-63 win over No. 7-seed Kentucky in the second round. The No. 6-seed Vols (24-11) beat No. 3-seed Virginia in their second-round game.
ISU All-American Joshua Jefferson’s health is still a question mark, however. Here is the latest update on the injury that sidelined him last game, and scroll below to see our game prediction:
Watch Iowa State basketball vs Tennessee NCAA Tournament game on SLING
Iowa State basketball vs Tennessee game prediction
Eugene Rapay: With or without Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State still has the pieces and tools to win. Jefferson’s absence may create for a more uphill battle in the paint or on the glass, but the Cyclones’ level of defensive disruption has only risen since the postseason tipped off. Creating turnovers will be the key, and Iowa State has already shown that it can weather cold-shooting stretches or adverse situations when it doubles down on defense. The Cyclones will need to do the same here. Iowa State 74, Tennessee 68
Iowa State vs Tennessee odds in March Madness
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday night.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State vs Tennessee prediction, March Madness expert picks for Sweet 16
Reporting by Gus Martin, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
